City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Ionia, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Ionia - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

12,950
Residents
$60,729
Median income
$161,100
Median home
$1,209
Median rent (state)

Ionia - the verdict

Ionia ranks in the 36th percentile for household income and the 75th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

36th
percentile, household income
30th
percentile, home value
37th
percentile, median rent
75th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ionia, MI

12,950 people live in Ionia, Michigan - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Ionia brings in $60,729 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.1%. Ionia's housing stock carries a median value of $161,100, and the median resident age is 38.2 years. About 11.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 45.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Ionia reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 739.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 47.1°F with 35.9 inches of precipitation per year and 54.2 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Michigan at 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,209 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 55.9 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

12,950 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$60,729 /yr

Poverty 10.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Ionia compare to other US cities?

Ionia measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 36% higher than other cities
Home value 30% pricier than other cities
Median rent 37% pricier than other cities
Safety 75% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Michigan and the picture shifts: Ionia ranks #75 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Ionia against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Ionia toward the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Ionia ranks #555 - the 23rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Ionia only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#351 of 718
51st percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#284 of 727
59th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#327 of 721
55th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#297 of 727
59th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#555 of 727
23rd percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

36thIncome percentile
75thSafety percentile

36th percentile nationally for median household income · 75th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Ionia's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Ionia's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 59 Avg. percentile National median
Ionia's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Ionia's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$161,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 70% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ionia $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Ionia, MI Ionia, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ionia, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Ionia, MI median $60,729/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ionia, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Ionia, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
12,950
Median Income
$60,729
Median Home Value
$161,100
Median Age
38.2
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Labor force participation
45.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
739.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
184.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
554.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.1°F
Annual Precipitation
35.9"
Annual Snowfall
54.2"

Schools

Total Schools
15
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,000 residents12,500 residents13,000 residents13,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 13,353 residents 12,208 residents ▼ -8.6%
Ionia's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
67.7%
Carpool
12.3%
Public Transit
7.2%
Walk
5.9%
Work from Home
5.2%
Other
1.7%

Based on 5,045 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Ionia sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,209/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
55.9 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Rochester
12,939 people
Woodhaven
12,761 people
Melvindale
12,605 people
Sault Ste. Marie
13,373 people
Escanaba
12,374 people
Riverview
12,269 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ionia's 12,950 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Newcastle, WA
12,945 people
Somerville, NJ
12,958 people
Bedford, OH
12,960 people
Miami, OK
12,960 people
Lynnfield, MA
12,964 people
Festus, MO
12,965 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ionia's $60,729 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Port Charlotte, FL
$60,729 median income
Harrisonville, MO
$60,727 median income
Miles City, MT
$60,732 median income
High Falls, NY
$60,724 median income
Mound City, MO
$60,735 median income
Woodward, OK
$60,720 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ionia, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Ionia, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.5% 14.6% 9.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.4% White 74.5% Black or African American 14.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 9.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Ionia compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Ionia (this city) 12,950 $60,729
Rochester 12,939 $104,920
Woodhaven 12,761 $83,291
Melvindale 12,605 $41,356
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ionia, MI?

What is the population of Ionia, MI? +

The population of Ionia, MI stands at 12,950 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ionia, MI? +

Median annual household income in Ionia runs $60,729, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ionia? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ionia; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Ionia, MI safe? +

Ionia has a total crime rate of 739.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Ionia, MI? +

The median home value in Ionia is $161,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Ionia? +

The average annual temperature in Ionia runs 47.1°F, 35.9 inches of precipitation, and 54.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.